Convertible article of furniture



Aug. 23, 1966 R. E. JACKSON CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Aug.5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I l INVENTOR RONALD E. JACKSON Aug. 23, 1966E. JACKSON CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNiTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.5, 1964 INVENTOR. RONALD E. JACKSON 1966 R. E- JACKSON 3,267,879

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Aug. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. RONALD EJACKSO/V r- 3,267,879 Patented Aug 1 1966 3,267,879CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Ronald E. Jackson, 432 /2 N. LafayetteSt., Greenville, Mich. Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 386,828 8 Claims.(Cl. 108-11) This invention provides an article of furniture having thefunctions of both a table and a bed. In house trailers, smallapartments, or in any areas where living space is at a premium, any formof double-utilization of floor space is very desirable. The device ispreferably mounted on a wall structure, and centers in a horizontalpanel that can be supported in either an up position corresponding totable height, or in a down position in which the panel rests uponend-supports to provide a sofa or bed. Preferably, these end-supportsserve as dinette benches when the device is in the table position.Movement from up to down positions is accomplished without de-mountingthe device from the wall.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in detail througha discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows the device in the down position in full lines, the upposition being shown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of the wall-mountedsocket.

FIGURE 4 is a section through the central portion of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the hinge connection.

FIGURE 6 is a section on the plane 6-6 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the hook engageable with the socket shown inFIGURES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 8 is a section on the plane 88 of FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the link member.

FIGURE 10 shows the preferred packaging for the hardware associated withthis invention.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which theretaining socket is concealed below the table level.

The preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings utilizesa panel 10 preferably equipped with a folding leg 11 arranged near theouter edge 12 of the panel. When the panel is in position to serve as atable, the leg 11 is swung downward about the hinge 13; and when theunit functions as a bed or sofa, the leg is swung upward against theunderside of the panel 10.

The inner side of the panel 10 is supported by the link 14, which ispivotally connected to the hinges 15 secured to the wall structure 16.The opposite ends of the link 14 are pivotally connected to the panel 10at the hinges 17, and the link 14 has an offset 18 which providesfreedom of movement from the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1 tothe dotted line position. In full lines, the link 14 functions as asuspension link, and in the table position shown in dotted lines, itserves as a compression strut. The slanted relationship of the link inthe table position requires some form of locking device to prevent thepanel 10 from moving outward as load is applied to it. For this purpose,the hinges 17 are provided with extensions 19 embracing the inner edgeof the panel 10, and engaging the sockets 20, as shown in dotted linesin FIGURE 1, when the unit is in the table position. The sockets 20 arenormally secured to the wall structure 16. The engagement anddisengagement of the extensions 19 from the sockets 20 are accomplishedby elevating the outer edge of the panel above the horizontal positionshown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, which causes a rotation about theaxis of the hinges 17. This can be continued to the point where theextensions 19 become engageable with the sockets 20, and the table maythen be lowered into the dotted line position of FIGURE 1.

In the down position shown in full lines in FIG- URES 1 and 2, amattress shown at 21 may be placed upon the panel 10 to provide a sofaor bed. It is preferable that the bench units 22 and 23 be used onconjunction with the device so that the upper surfaces are more or lesscontinuous with that of the panel 10 to provide the necessary length fora bed. Any softness of upholstery on the top of the benches 22 and 23will eliminate the need for the offset shown at 26 and 27, and thesesame units will serve as dinette benches when the device is in the tableposition. The mounting of the hardware must be such that the height ofthe benches 22 and 23 does not interfere with the down positiondetermined by the link 14. Having thus determined the location of thehinges 15, the location of the sockets 20 is determined by the upposition of the link 14. For ultimate economy, it is readily possible touse the interior space of these bench units as storage cabinets.

The hardware items used in this invention are normally marketed as aseparate package. It is usually preferable for the local lumber yards tosupply the panel 10, and the construction of the bench units 22 and 23is also .usually a local project. The hardware, however, is effectivelymarketable as a separate package of the type shown in FIGURE 10. A box28 contains the fitting packages 29 and 30, and also the packets offastenings 31 and 32. The sidewall 33 of the box is provided withapertures for the passage of the arms 34 and 35 of the link 14. Theportion 36 of the link (extending between the hinges 15 when installed)functions nicely as a handle.

The construction of the various components of the set of hardware can beof utmost simplicity. The link 14 is preferably made of bent round rodstock, with the out-turned ends 37 and 38 serving as journals in conjunction with the bearing portions 39 of the hinge members 17. These maybe constructed as bent pieces of sheet metal, if desired, and the sameholds true for the hinges 15 shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The centralformed portions 40 of the hinges 15 embrace the portion 36 of the linkmember as best shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 11, a modified form of the invention is illustratedas an example of an arrangement for concealing the hardware below thelevel of the panel 42. The fitting 43 includes a bearing portion 44 forreceiving the out-turned ends 45 of the link 46. The angle 47 of thislink is selected so that there will be proper freedom to rotate from theposition shown in FIGURE 11 to a position corresponding to the full lineposition of FIGURE 1.

The fittings 43 have the downwardly-extending hook portions 48 engagingwith the sockets 49 mounted to open upwardly. This engagement isobtained by lowering the outer edge 50 of the table from the positionshown in FIGURE 11 a sufiicient amount for the hook portions 48 to slipover the top of the sockets 49. After this has been accomplished, theleg 51 can be swung downward, and a diagonal brace 52 locked inposition. The leg 51 and the brace 52 can be of any convenient design,the illustrated type being associated with folding card-tableconstruction. The leg 51 is hinged to the panel 42 at a conventionalhinge unit 53.

There are some occasions in which it becomes desirable to completelydisengage the assembly associated with the panel 42 from the wallstructure 54. The hinge 55 is modified as shown in FIGURE 11 to providea leafspring retention of the portion 56 of the line 46, and a sharpupward pull will be sufiicient to disengage the link from the hingefittings 55.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a wall structure, a convertible article offurniture, comprising:

a panel including folding support means mounted on a the under sidethereof;

a dual-position suppont for the inner side of said panel including alink pivotally connected to the under side of said panel for rotation onan axis spaced from the edge of said inner side, and said link furtherbeing pivotally connected to said wall a structure on a normallyhorizontal axis, said support also including a socket mounted on saidwall structure, and a hook engageable with said socket and mounted onsaid panel at a position adjacent the edge of said inner side and spacedfrom the axis of the pivotal connection of said link to said panel, andengageable with said socket only on displacement of said panel from ahorizontal position in an upward position of said link; and

support means disposed under the said panel to receive the same in thelower position thereof.

2. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said link has an offsetproviding freedom of rotation between positions extending above andbelow said panel.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said hook is an extensionof a hinge member providing the pivotal connection of said link to saidpanel.

4. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said hook extends downward,and said socket opens upward.

5. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said hook extends upward,and said socket opens downward.

6. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said link is releasablefrom the pivotal connection to said wall structure.

7. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said folding supportincludes a leg hinged to the said panel adjacent the outer edge thereofon an axis disposed to cause said leg to fold upward and inward.

8. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said socket is disposedbelow the normal upper position of said panel as determined by the saidlink;

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,004 2/1883Anders-on 248240.1 X 1,137,172 4/1915 Stewart 10848 1,250,625 12/1917Myers 108-434 X 1,591,254 7/1926 Williams 248240.1 X 2,257,425 9/1941Menzzetti 108l1 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATIION WITH A WALL STRUCTURE, A CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE, COMPRISING: A PANEL INCLUDING FOLDING SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE UNDER SIDE THEREOF, A DUAL-POSITION SUPPORT FOR THE INNER SIDE OF SAID PANEL INCLUDING A LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID PANEL FOR ROTATION ON AN AXIS SPACED FROM THE EDGE OF SAID INNER SIDE, AND SAID LINK FURTHER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE ON A NORMALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDING A SOCKET MOUNTED ON SAID WALL STRUCTURE, AND A HOOK ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SOCKET AND MOUNTED ON SAID PANEL AT A POSITION ADJACENT THE EDGE OF SAID INNER AND SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID LINK TO SAID PANEL, AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SOCKET ONLY ON DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PANEL FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION IN AN UPWARD POSITION OF SAID LINK; AND SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSED UNDER SAID PANEL TO RECEIVE THE SAME IN THE LOWER POSITION THEREOF. 